Electrical water-heating apparatus having electrodes



O. G RAETZER Jan. 13, 19M.

ELECTRICAL WATER HEATING APPARATUS HAVING ELECTRODES 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June IN veA/fon Otto naftzsn o. GRAETZER 1,788,669

ELECTRICAL WATER HEATING APPARATUS HAVING ELECTRODES Jan. 13, 1931.

Filed June 2l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Jan. 13, 1931 ECE ELECTRICAL `WATERHEATING-APPART-US HAVN'G. ELECTROD'ES Application filed June 21,y i928, serialv No.-

Vith electrical water heating apparatus of the geyser type and having electrodes between whichv the water to be heated flows, which apparatus are notdirectly screwed on to the water supply outlet, it has not been hitherto possible to regulatevthe apparatus' for a definite current consumption and 'leinperature of the outflowing water, because the apparatus is affected by the temperature and electrical conductivity of the cold water sup'- plied to it. y Y

As regards its Y electrical conductivity,

water exhibits great differences, whichdepend also on the fact that the temperature of the water changes withthe time of the year.

The consequence .of this is that, for eX# ample, an apparatus which has been designed for a current consumption of 6 aniperes at the factory takes l0 amperes at another place and only four amperes at a third. If the apparatus takes 10.amperes instead of ythe 'fuses .blow if the electric conductors are protected with 6 ampere fuses. lf 10 ampere fuses are used for protection a great part of 'the water is Wasted in steam owing to the cui1w rent consumption of the apparatus being too great, with the result that fluctuations in current occur and uniform outflow of the waterv is prevented.

lf on the contrary the current consumption is for example only 4 amperes the water flowing' 4hrough the apparatus cannot take up sufficient heat and therefore has a lower temperaturetlian at the place where the apparatus was manufactured, so that the apparatus does not then fulfill expectations.

@wing to these variable results many electricity works prohibit the connection of these ee rapparatus to their mains. y

lt has been found by exact experiment and observation that the aforesaid drawbacks can only be avoided, if the -spaces between the electrodes are filled io a breater or less eX- tent with water and the amount of the water supply can suitably regulated by means ci a valve according to the conductivity and temperature of 'he Water. y

With ali geysers the attempt is made to the most rapid heating possible of the 287,222, ami in switzerland July 8,1927.

vater. With electrode apparatus of ilie kind stated how-ever the space between the elec-V tiodes must first be filled with water before tlievheat e laitercan begin.

ylnxthe Vappn matter ci the present invention to effect the immediate hea'ing byv first o ning the regnlatingdevice to its fullest extent, lwher by the electrodes .are im@4 inediti-ely4 iiiied withiwater. Thenas soon itl ispossible' the water is heated the regulator is soad` usted that the iiow oit the water to the electrodes Ais oniy in a quantity such that iti-s siiitab'lefto'the conditions prevailing at the tiine. In order that theinlet opening of the; reguiating device cannot be'l'eft open permanently, whereby the flow` of` water.A through tus which oi'msthek subject .1

o the water eey thejapparaus wouldfbe too greatand the i consumption of current also would be too greatV the regulatingfdevice can be so con" structed thaueiter being temporarily fullyf opened, the water inlets are ai'itomaically vreducedin size anu' the device is simultane- Ously` fixed in theiprefdeterinined position in,

wni'clr the watek supply corresponds tothe prevailing*conditions.

` An embodiment o'ctlie invention is illus-y ira-tedibyfway offexamplein; the accompanyL ing drawings, in whichy,

Fig. lisa longitudinal sectiongthroughy a water-heatiiigapparatus having electrodes.;

`Fig; 2 isa sectionthrougli'theregulating:

devicepitself, andlFigs. 3, land 5r are plans oi the regulating device in different positions.

Referring tothe drawing, the water? supply pipel, has three lateral passages, 2a and'2b, the l diameters ofwhich is such that the water: flowingthrough them can com.- pletely lillv the space between'tlie electrodes. ln order-now to bejableto regulat'efthe supplyk ofwater` ytothe electrodes and toffill thespace between them with water to; a greateryi or. smaller height, therer isiitted'over the supply pipe'l a revolubleqcap 3 which has three passages 4, laand lb of the Vsame size as the passages 2, 2a and 2b inthe supply pipe. A-lever arin is fixed to thecap 3. lf this levery arnil is turned -untilvit `abuts against the stop 6, tthe passages, Qoifandb inthe supply-pipe andthe passagesl, 4a and 4b` in the cap are directly opposite one another (Fig. 8). In this position the amount of' Water which is necessary to completely fill the space between the electrodes with Water flows through. It' in this position of the lever arm the current consumption is as desired Without iuctuations in current oci'urring, the lever arm 5 is locked in this position bv means ot the ca cli 7. in most cases the current consumption Will be too great in this positi 117 because the electrodes are made so large that their are able to heat very cold and badly conducting Water. l'f a better conducting Water is available, as is generally the case, the lever arm is turned to the right (Fig. l) until the ammeter indicates the current prescribed for the apparatus. By turning the lever arm to the right the Water supply inlets are reduced in size by the cap 3, and therefore the space between the electrodes is lilled more slowly and to a smaller extent With Water. ln order to lock the lever arm in thisI position, the catch 7 is inserted behind it. F ig. 5 shows a position in Which the size of the Water inlets is still further reduced.

In order to allow a greater quantity o'f Water to reach the electrodes quickly at the moment when the apparatus is first used., the lever arm 5 is turned as far as tl e stop G, held in this position for a few seconds and then released when it is automatically released bach to the catch 7, Which forms a stop, by the spring 8.

By means of this invention not only is it possible to regulate the apparatus at any place according to the condition of the Water` supply so as to take a definite number ot amperes Without fluctuations in current occurring, but also, if the temperature of the Water varies, as in summer time and Winter, to maintain the outflowing hot Water at a definite temperature by adjusting the stop or catch 7 to the right or left.

The invention also enables the Water to be heated more quickly and, When provided with the hereinbefore described automatic return of the valve, provides security against unsuitable treatment.

I claim l. An electric Water heater having electrodes, a Water supply pipe for conducting water to electrodes, a plurality of passages in the upper end of said Water supply pipe, a cap rotatably mounted on and enclosing` the end of said Water supply pipe7 a second plurality of passages in said cap capable of coinciding with said first plurality of passages and means l'or varying the coincidence of said passages to maintain the conductance of the Water supply constant.

2. An electric Water heater having electrodes, a Water supply pipe for conducting Water to said electrodes, a plurality of passages in the upper end of said Water supiffeaeeo corrugated sprin OTTO GR AETZER. 

